Dublin vs London: cost of living compared
Rent, prices, incomes and rent burden in Dublin (Ireland) and London (United Kingdom), side by side. Every figure comes from official statistics and shows its source and year. No overall winner is declared: which city suits you depends on your income, job and lifestyle.
At a glance
- Lower overall pricesLondon
- Lower rent burdenLondon
What residents say: Dublin vs London
Share of residents who agree or are satisfied, asked the same questions in both cities in 2023. These are people's own views, not official measurements.
Source: European Commission and Eurostat, survey on quality of life in European cities, 2023 (Eurostat dataset urb_percep). Positive answers added (for example "strongly agree" + "somewhat agree", or "very satisfied" + "rather satisfied"). Survey areas: Dublin (greater city); London. See all 27 capitals ranked
Rent in Dublin and London
A good-quality 1-bedroom flat costs €2,000 a month in Dublin and £2,000 a month in London (Eurostat — Average rent per month in cities by type of dwelling, 2025).
Both figures come from the same survey and describe the same kind of home, but they are published in different currencies. Convert one at the current exchange rate to compare them directly.
Overall prices
The overall price level in Dublin is about 25% higher than in London.
On the Eurostat price-level index (Brussels = 100), Dublin scores 130.7 and London scores 104.5 (2025). The index covers a full basket of goods and services, including housing, for a professional household.
Incomes and rent burden
Average household disposable income per person is €28,100 a year in the region around Dublin (2023) and £36,487 a year around London (2024). This is income after tax averaged over every resident, including children and retired people, so it is lower than a typical salary.
Rent burden, one year of the rent above divided by income per person, is 85.4% in Dublin and 65.8% in London. The lower the number, the less of local incomes a typical rent takes.
What this comparison does not tell you
These are city-wide official averages. Rents vary a lot between neighbourhoods, and the salary you can earn depends on your job, experience and contract. Taxes, social contributions, visa rules and healthcare costs also differ between countries and are not included here. Check the current rules with the official authority before you decide.
How each figure is collected and calculated is explained in our methodology. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy.
Full city profiles
Dublin cost of living profile · London cost of living profile
Related comparisons
Sources
- Eurostat — Regional household disposable income
- Placeivo derived affordability calculation
- Eurostat — Average rent per month in cities by type of dwelling
- Eurostat — EU duty-station cost-of-living index
- Office for National Statistics — Regional gross disposable household income
- Placeivo derived affordability calculation — London
- Eurostat — Extra-EU duty-station cost-of-living index